Dirigible searchlight



A. P- SAUER DIRIGIBLE SEARCHLIGHT June 6, 1950 Filed May 29, 1948 ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1950 DIRIGIBLE SEARCHLIGHT Arthur P. Sauer, Fairfield, Conn, assignor to The Kilborn-Sauer Company, Fairfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application May 29, 1948, Serial No. 30,127

The present invention relates to a dirigible searchlight, particularly of the type for marine use adapted to be mounted upon the roof of a boat cabin, or the like, for directional and angular control from a point within the cabin remote from the search-light. .An object of the invention is to provide a search-light structure having improved mechanism for turning the searchlight about horizontal and vertical axes, such mechanism being designed to occupy a relatively small space, and being at the same time capable of obtaining a relatively great mechanical advantage so that the searchlight may be quickly actuated with comparatively little effort. A further object is to provide a search-light structure in which the operating parts are completely enclosed, so that they are effectually protected against the entrance of water, salt spray, and other deteriorating elements.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully describedwith reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dirigible searchlight, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

' the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the dirigible searchlight, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a mounting base In of hollow form having a closure plate I I secured in its lower end by brazing or the like, and provided with a central vertically disposed tubular bearing l2 secured by swaging its upper and lower shouldered ends respectively within a central opening I3, in the dished portion 94 of the upper wall, and a central opening l5, in an upwardly recessed portion Ila of the closure plate I I.

Rotatably mounted upon the base Ill is a head member I6 having an annular rib I! at its lower side engaging the annular bearing surface N3 of 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-6113) the upper wall of the base member. a vertically disposed tubular sleeve I9 being fixed centrally within the head l6 and projecting'above and below 'it with its downwardly projecting portion having rotatable bearing in the tubular bearing I2. A retaining nut is screwed upon the lower end of the sleeve l9 in opposed relation to the lower end of the bearing I 2. The sleeve I9 is rigidly securedto the'head member It in any suitable manner, preferably by casting the head member it about the sleeve member IS.

A vertical slot 2If is provided in the upper portion of the sleeve l9; extending from the base of a recess 22 in the upper side of the head member IE to the upper end of the tube. 'A plunger shaft 23 is slideably engaged in the tube l9, and is provided at its upper endwith a horizontally projecting arm'24 rigidly fixed thereto and projecting through the slot 2|, this arm performing 20 the dual function of imparting rotation to the head it to control the directional position of the search-light upon'rotary movement being applied to the plunger'23, and of operating mechanism, presently to be more fully described, to control 25 the angular position of the search-light upon vertical movement applied to the plunger 23.

For the purpose of imparting rotary and vertical movement to the plunger 23 there is fixedly securedto its lower end by means of a pin 25 a flexible rod 26 extending through a flexible housing tube 21, and provided at its remote end with an operating handle 28, the housing tube being secured at its upper end by being screwed into an internally threaded flanged collar 29 secured by screws 39 to the underside of the closure plate II. By turning the handle 28, the plunger 23 and the head I6 are rotated, and by pushing or pulling the handle, the plunger'is vertically moved up or down. 1 j

The base Ill is adapted to be secured by bolts 3i to the boat top, or the like, 32, a passage 33 being provided in the boat top through which the housing tube 21 extends.

Upon the upper side of the head Hi there is mounted a housing member comprising two similar half sections 34--34. separable along the cenhousing member is of circumferential curved form concentric to the shaft 38 and projects into an opening 43 in the casing between the lugs 40 to permit pivotal angular adjustment of the lamp through rotation of the shaft 38.

A lever 44 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by means of a pivot screw 45 upon the side of the sleeve l9 adjacent its upper end, and is pivotally connected. at one end by a link 46 to the outer encl of the arm 24, its other nd being pivotally connected by a link 41 to the outer end of an arm 48 having an integral hub 49 at its inner end secured upon the shaft.38.by .means of a pin 50. Downward movement o'fthe plunger 23 to the position indicated 'by the 'dash linesiin Fig. 2 swings the lever 24 -in-counter-elockwise 4 transverse shaft rotatably mounted in said housing member, a lamp casing having supporting means fixed to said shaft, a lever arm secured to said shaft within said housing, and a lever system within said housing connected between said fixed arm of said plunger and said lever arm arranged to impart rotation to said shaft through vertical movement of said plunger.

.2. In a dirigible search-light, a mounting base member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and having a central vertical bearing, a

head member mounted on said base member hav- "inga central vertically disposed tube fixed there- 'to andextending above and below it and having direction and through the link 41 swings the-arm 48 upwardly, thus rotating the-shaft 38 .to. swing the lamp casing downwardly. Upward movement of the plunger 23 to the position indicated by the dotted lines swings the lever 44 in clockwise direction and through the lever -41 swings the arm-48 downwardly, thus rotating-the shaft 38 to swing the lamp basing upwardly. The arrangement is such that the mechanical advantage-of the levers is obtained within-a relatively compact space completely .enclosed within the pocket through which the conductor .extends.

spring 58 :is interposed rbetweenlthe flanged ;sleev,e'=53 andthe insulating tube-5.5 zan'd presses the contact button into engagement with a rcircularccontact ring :59 mounted "upon an insulating-ring 6-0 seated in the-dished upper wall portion M 'of the base member 1 13. {Blue rings '59 and 60 are secured by means of; screws l6! engaged upwardly through flanged insulating ;bushjugs-2 and screwedintothecontact 'ring 59. One:

of the screws'fil serves 'as =a bindingvpost for a :conductor wire --Bj3 adapted to be connectedjto a :"suitable source of electric energy, this 'wire extendingthrough a hole-.64 in the clesureplated :of thebase l0 gandthrough a -pa'ssage fi izinthe 'roof .32.

I have illustrated and described :a preferred -:and satisfactory embodiment ;of the invention, :but it will be understooid Ethat changes may :be

made therein within the spir-it and scope-thereof gas :definedein the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

;1. ;I-n a dirigible search-light, ;.a;mount-in g base member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure andhavingacentral-vertical beari-ng,-.a head :member mountedomsa idsbase member having a central vertically adisposed tube fixedthereto and extending above and below v:it and having its lower end engaged insaid bearing of ,said ,base member .for rotation about a vertical axispsaid :tube .hav-

. ing.,a=-vertical slot inoneside -thereof extending .along its upwardlvprojecting portion above said head member, a .plunger engaged in saidtube .for vertical movement -therein having a fixed arm extending.laterally..thr.ough saidslot wherebyrotation of said plunger imparts rotation to said head member, a1housing member secured jupon .the upper side of said head member, a

itsrlowerendengaged in aid bearing of said base member for .rotation about a vertical axis, said tube having a vertical slot in one side thereof extending along its upwardly projecting portion above said head member, a plunger engaged in said tube for vertical movement therein having 'a fixed arm'extending laterally through said slot whereby rotation of said plunger imparts rotation to said head member, a housing member secured upon the upper side of said head member, a transverse-shaft mounted in said housing member, a lamp casing havingsupportingmeans fixed -to said shaft, a lever armsecured to said shaft within said housing, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends within said housing member, a

link connecting one end of said lever to said fixed arm of said plunger, and a second link connecting the other ,end. of said lever to said lever arm, whereby vertical movement of said plunger imparts rotation to said shaft.

3. In a dirigible search-light, a mounting base member adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and having a central vertical bearing, a head membermounted on said-base member having a central vertically disposed tube fixed there- 'to and extending below it and having its lower end engaged in said bearing of said base memher for rotation about :a, vertical axis, a plunger engaged in said tube .for vertical movement, means keying saidplunger to saidtube whereby rotation of said plunger imparts rotation to said head member, a flexible shaft extending upwardly through said tube and. fixed to said plunger forimparting rotaryiand vertical movement thereto, a housing member secured upon the upper side of said head member, a'-transverse shaft rotatably mounted in said (housing member, a, lamp casing having snpporting means'fixed to said shaft, a lever arm :secured to said shaft within said housing, and -a lever system within said housing connected betweensaid plunger and said lever arm arranged to impart rotation to said shaft through vertical movement of said plunger.

ARTHUR P. SAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following:referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,155,752 Brand Apr. 25, 1939 2,192,114 Walker Feb. 27, 194.0 2,212,048 Russell Aug. 20, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 627,931 France June 30, 1927 

